Cardon, Jean-Guillain (January 18,1732-October 18, 1788)
Dates
- Existence: January 18,1732 - October 18, 1788
Biography
(b Mons, southern Netherlands, 18 Jan 1732; d Versailles, 18 Oct 1788). French violinist and composer. He apparently lived in Champagne or Lorraine before going to Paris in 1761; it is likely that he also spent some time in Brussels, as a certain Cardon was a violinist with the Durancy troupe of actors there in 1753. He married Marie-Anne Petit before 1760, and after settling in the Paris area began using the name Jean-Baptiste; it is therefore important not to confuse him either with his best-known son, Jean-Baptiste, often referred to as ‘Cardon fils’, or with his near-contemporary, Jean-Baptiste Cardonne, often called Philibert Cardonne.
Cardon was appointed violon ordinaire in the royal chapel at Versailles in 1764, and about 1772 received the additional appointment of maître de violon to the teenage future Louis XVIII, from which he was pensioned in 1774. His compositions include chamber works, mainly for the violin, and song collections. A brother of Cardon was a cellist with the Concert Spirituel and Théâtre Italien, and taught the cello to Jean-Guillain’s son Pierre.
Source:
Kenneth Langevin. ""Cardon, Jean-Guillain."" In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.ezproxy.mnl.umkc.edu/subscriber/article/grove/music/04917 (accessed February 21, 2011).
